Combination packer and swab



Feb'. 25, 1941.

Filed Jan. 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ill Feb.'25, 1941. G.. A. HUMAsoN ETAL 2,233,013

COMBINATION PACKER AND SWAB Filed Jan. 25, 1958 3 sheets-Sheet 2 Il IH @amai/k J9. '//ma so@ Ffa/fer .A C'Zay,

' Feb. 25, 1941. G. A. HUMASON Erm. y 2,233,013

COMBINATION PACKER AND SWAB Filed' Jan. 25, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 6] 6/ /o 66 67 5 E /7 sa' -1 2 6 a J v70 3l 2l F i510. N 'mww//e/Q/wnaaan. 22' v Wafer d/ay. 1||||||| I mi. I FT F i 9.9. m y

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Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,233,013 COMBINATION PAUKER AND SWAB Granville A. Humason and Walter J. Clay, Houston, T

Application January 25, 1938, Serial N0. 186,787

8 Claims.

in contracted position, may be easily lowered,.-

into a well and expanded to provide an effective seal with the surrounding walls.

A further object is to provide a device having a packer sleeve with a liquid filled internal chamber whereby the device will more effectively seal 'with the walls of -the casing or .well bore.

Still another object is to provide a device of the class described and which` includes a novel check and relief valve assembly to control the 2o flow of liquid into and from. the device.

Still another object is to provide a device of the class described and in which the check valve may be replaced by an anchor to increase the iield of usefulness of such device.

' The foregoing objects, together with further objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view in elevation of the upper portion of the device, comprising the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view comprising a continuation of the view shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isan assembly view partly in section, showing the relative position of parts when the device is lowered within the Well bore.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but showingthe relative position of parts when the device is operated as a swab.

Figs. 6. 7 and 8 are sectional views taken on lines 6--6, I--l and 8-8 in Figs. 4 and 5.

Figs. 9 and 10 are similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but illustrate a modified form of the invention and showing the relative position of parts when the device is lowered into a well.

Fig. ll is an assembly view partly in section, showing an embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 with the parts in their relative positions occupied when the device is set within the well. Attention is first directed to Fig. 3 in which 5o the device is shown within a casing I as comprising a body 2 having an enlarged bore 3 receiving the upper end of a mandrel 4 which extends downwardly from the body 2 and is surrounded by a packer sleeve 5.

55 A collar 6 is threadably secured to the lower (Cl. 16B-12) end of the mandrel 4 and the opposite ends of the sleeve 5 are connected to the collar 6 and the body 2 respectively. The collar 6 is counterbored at l, thusI providing a chamber to receive a check and relief valve assembly I. 5 As is most clearly shown in Fig. l, a bore 3 in the body 2 is restricted at its lower end whereby a shoulder I0 is provided. The opposite end of the bore 3 is provided with threads II to receive alreducer coupling I2 which, when l0 the device is used as a swab, carries a protector sub I3, the purpose of which is to protect the threads within the coupling I2. As the weight of the body 2 is an element in the operation of the device, the sub I3 may be of any 15 desirable length to serve the dual function of protecting the threads in the coupling I2 and supplying weight to the body assembly.

Beneath the threads II the body 2 is provided with straight threads I5 to receive a collar IB 20 which may be adjustably positioned within the body and which provides a downwardly facing shoulder I1. The body 2 is also provided with a plurality of keyways I8 to slidably receive -keys 20 which are fixed in the surface of a sub 2| 25 attached to the upper end of stem 22 of the mandrel 4. The keys 20 are fixed in the sub 2l by means of a second su-b 23, which is screwed down tightly against the ends of the keys. It is obvious that the construction thus far de- 30 scribed is such as to permit the mandrel assembly 4 to move longitudinally of the body 2 but such movement is limited by engagementV of shoulders I0 and II on the body 2 with shoulders 2S and 26 respectively on the mandrel 4. 35

An upward extension 2l on the mandrel 4 has a cable clamp head 28 attached thereto whereby the device may be manipulated through cable 29 which extends upwardly to the mouth of the well. The extension 21 has a central 40 bore which terminates adjacent its upward end where radial openings 30 are provided to permit the outward passage of iiuid from within the mandrel.

The mandrel 4 terminates at its lower end 45 in a head 3| and the upper face of this head and the lower face of the body 2 are provided with annular recesses 32 to receive the ends 33 of the packer sleeve 5 which surrounds the mandrel 4. This feature of the device is of a particular construction and further attention will be directed thereto.

The packer sleeve 5 is made of a deformable and wear resistant material such as rubber, is tubular in cross section and is of such diameter as to fit closely within the bore in which the device is to be used. This sleeve also ts in close. sealing engagement with the mandrel i and is provided with an internal cavity intermediate its ends whereby there is provided an annular chamber 35 which is sued with liquid in a manner and for the purpose to be described.

, within the chamber 35, annular exible. lips .3@

the chamber and- To insure against leakage of -liquid from.

are provided atthe ends of when pressure is-'exerted upon the liquid within I the chamber these lips effectively seal against leakage ofthe liquid along the suriace of mandrel. The reduced end section S5 of the packer sleeve ts within the grooves 32' of the body 2 and the head 3l. These reduced portions are 4reinforced by thev provision of a metal ring 31 encased within such reduced portions and through which screws 38 pass to hold these parts in assembled relation. A passage 4@ is also prov videdin each alignment with passage il in thesleeve 5. .These the body 2 and the head 3i in passages arev providedwith' eicsure caps d2 whereby the chamber 3E may be lled withvliquid and such liquid may be permanently enclosed therein. l

As above stated the head 3i? counterbored at 1- to receive lthe valve assembly .generally designated as 8. This -ae'mbly comprises a plug 45 lwhich isA screwed into the -counterbore -1 and which carries on its upper end a valve and pass'fluid upwardly through the device.

The operation of thedevice iust described is The lower end oi the plug db has a downwardly extending hollow boss di to which is ato tached a relief valve cage 52. Adjusting plus 53 a't the lower end of the valve cage engages s compression spring El whichpresses upwardly against a block 55 contoured to receive ball valve |58 which is thus pressed against valve seat 51 in. the boss di. it is believed apparent that with this construction the relief valve may be adjusted so that when'a predetermined head of liquid is superpcsed thereon the valve `will open and release the liquid creatina such excesspressure. y

The liquid. 4so released ilows downwardly through the mandrel and through passages t@ which extend diagonally downwardly from with- `in the annular chamber about the valve cage i'i to the interior of the boss El.

as follows:

Preliminary to lowering the .device mw' the well the chamber 3E in the packersleeve is lled l with liquid to such extent .that the sleeve ts closely within the bore in which the device is to be used. The device is then lowered to the de- .aired depth, the liquid withinthe well bore passing upwardly through the device during its de.

scent. when the predetermined and desired -level is reached, the device is liftedwhereupon the weight of the body 2 and the downward pressure of, liquid against this bcdyvwill cause telescopic movement between the body 2 and the mandrel @,'whereby theV packer sleeve d will be expanded into intimate contact with the walls oi thecasing i. Excess pressure'between the sleeve 5 and the walls o the casing will be avoided by limiting the telescopic movement of these parts through contact of 'shoulder 26 of the mandrel with shoulder il in the body 2. Upward movekment of the device within the casingl will perorm the intended functions of the device and a quantity of liquid will be lifted thereby, which quantity depends upon the adjustment' oi the p relief valve above described.

The chamber within the packer sleeve l contains an incompressible uid whereby any pressure exerted thereon will be distributed univlformly in all directions and hence cause such flow ofthe material oi' the sleeve 5 as to effect 4an intimate contact thereof with thewalls ofthe casing l. Furthermore, such construction pre,-

. vents substantial collapsing of the packer sleeve,-

and the amount of duid placed within the chamaccurate dt of thesleeve within the casing in which the device is to be used.

Figs. d and 5 are similar to Figs. l and 2 and identical reference characters are applied thereto. In these views, however, the respective parts of the device' lare shown in the positions which they assume when the device is beinglifted within the casing i 'ber 35 may be so regulated as to provide an Similar parte are also similarly identied in Figs. 9,. 10 and il,` which show a modification wherein the protector sub has been removed and the device is attached to a tubing string of which the lower end .is shown at Bl. In this modification the check and reiieivvalve assembly is removed'es shown in Fig. 10 and a. hooi: wall an chor' generallydesignated-as' B5 is attached to the head 2i. This hook wall anchor comprises an expander t@ having a tapered surface 6l upon which the jaws @t slide to an expanded position as shown in Fig. li, whereby the .jaws are brought into engagement with the` casing I and the position o the device therein is ilxed. i

A tubular extension l@ is attached to the eX- pander t@ and extends downwardly to form a continuation 1h the tubing string trom the surface of' the well. Itis apparent that when the .device is fixed in position within the well, as shown in Fig. il, a seal is formed between the tubing string and the casing i and iluid is therefore restrained from passing either upwardly or' downwardly between the tubing string and the casing. it is believed also apparent that the use ci the deviceis not restricted to the provision of a seal within the casing but obviously the device 1 may also be utilized for the purpose of sealing between the tubing string and the walls of an uncased well bore.

It is to be noted that when the device is used as shown in Figa 9, 10 and ll, similar threads are provided at opposite ends of the device; hence. if desired, the-hook wall anchor 66 may be attached at either'end while the tubing String et is attached to the other end. The device may giving rise 4to attendant dilculties within the4 `well bore. Likewise attentionis directed to the fact that extension 21 is shown broken at 30 to indicate that the extension may project upwardly for a predetermined distance. It is intended that this extension will provide, with the surrounding tubing and above the packer sleeves, an annular chamber within which a definite volume of oil is retained and brought to the surface. When the swab volume is m determined the relief valve 52 may be loosely adjusted and ln this manner the vacuum created beneath the packer is reduced or entirely eliminated and the swab efilciency is enhanced.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the above description, it is to be understood that the invention is not conned to the specic embodiments but includes equivalents thereof and'is limited only by the appended claims and the prior art.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the character described includ; ing a tubular mandrel having a radial flange intermediate its ends, a packer sleeve surrounding the mandrel below said flange, and having its lower end fixed to the mandrel, a body member slidably surrounding said mandrel and attached to the upper end of the sleeve, and annular shoulders in said body above and below said flange and adapted to be engaged by said flange to limit longitudinal movement of the mandrel relative to the body.

2. A device of the character described including a tubular mandrel having a radial flange intermediate its ends, a packer sleeve'surrounding the mandrel below said flange, and having its lower end fixed to the mandrel, a body member slidably surrounding said mandrel and attached to the upper end of the sleeve, a splined connection between said mandrel andbody, and annular shoulders in said body above and below said ilange and adapted to be engaged by the flange to limit longitudinalv movement of the mandrel relative to the body, and means for anchoring the mandrel at a predetermined level within a well bore.

3. A device of the character described including a tubular mandrel, an upwardly opening check valve assembly at the lower end of the mandrel so that fluid may pass freely through the mandrel while the device is lowered into a well, an overload by-pass valve to release fluid under pressure within the mandrel, a packer sleeve on the mandrel and having its lower end attached to said assembly, and a body memberV slidable on the mandrel and secured to the ,upper end of the packer sleeve.

4. A device to be loweredinto a well bore including a tubular mandrel, a packer .sleeve thereon, means for -xing the lower end of the packer sleeve to the mandrel, a weighted body slidably mounted on the mandrel above the packer and means for exerting a lifting force upon the mandrel whereby the weight of the body and fluid pressure thereon compresses and expands the packer sleeve.

5. The combination of a wire line, a mandrel attached thereto, a packer sleeve of expansible material surrounding the lower end of the mandrel, and a cylindrical body slidably mounted upon the mandrel above said sleeve so that fluid pressure exerted upon the body when the wire line is drawn upwardly will relatively move the mandrel and body and expand said sleeve.

6. The combination af a wire line, a mandrel attached thereto, a packer sleeve of expansible material surrounding the lower end of the mandrel, a cylindrical body slidably mounted upon the mandrel above said sleeve so that fluid pressure exerted upon the body when the wire line is drawn upwardly will relatively move the mandrei and body and expand said sleeve, and means for limiting the movement between the body and mandrel.

7. In combination a mandrel, a packer sleeve surrounding the lower end of the mandrel and having its lower end fixed to the mandrel, said sleeve having a fluid chamber therein, and a body slidable upon said mandrel and attached to the upper end of said sleeve, there being a passage to the chamber within the sleeve whereby the chamber may be lled with liquid` means closing said passage against the ingress and egress of iluid to and from the passage. and means for relatively moving the mandrel and body to expand the packer.

8. In combination a mandrel, a packer sleeve surrounding the mandrel, said sleeve having an inner angular groove intermediate its ends to form with the mandrel an enclosed chamber, there being a passage to said chamber whereby liquid may be introduced thereto, means closing said passage against the ingress and egress of iluid to and`from said passage, and means foi` expanding the packer sleeve.

GRANVILLE A. HUMASON. WALTER J. CLAY. 

